by DONNA SEALY

PRIMARY SCHOOLS
will no longer be allowed to "withdraw" from participating in the National Primary Schools' Athletic Championship (NAPSAC).

"I can say that from now on, the ministry
will not tolerate any withdrawals from NAPSAC again. Sports is an important school activity," Chief Education Officer Wendy Griffith-Watson told SUNDAY SUN yesterday.

"A whole school cannot withdraw from NAPSAC without the ministry's permission. They would have to come to the ministry to say that something is radically wrong," she said.

The Chief Education Officer said the ministry "really did not know" about the track and field team from Bayley's Primary School being pulled at the last minute from the zonal meet on February 28.

On Monday about
30 parents protested
a decision by Bayley's Primary School not to compete this year. For roughly an hour the parents carried placards outside the Merricks,
St Philip school, showing their dissatisfaction.

Some problems

A meeting was then held at the Ministry of Education on Tuesday with Griffith-Watson and other ministry officials, principal Margaret Brandford, the games teacher, Mr Forde, and representatives from the Barbados Union of Teachers.

Griffith-Watson said on Wednesday: "I met with the principal and the games teacher yesterday and it is clear that there are some problems and there needs to be a further meeting with the PTA executive to iron out what are some of the concerns that both sides have.

"When they have met and resolved the problems, then they would be able to tell you more," she said.

Spokesperson for the parents, Joanne Sherry, said she understood there would be
a meeting, but did not know when it would be held.

She also said
a letter was sent to the Ministry of Education on Wednesday requesting a meeting with the officials so that parents could state their case directly.

The parents said it was unfair that the athletes were just given a letter stating that the school would not be competing this year, with no reason given.

The parents said the letter came after hundreds of dollars in expenses had already been incurred from the purchase of track shoes, clothing, food, and transportation to training sessions, and they called for answers.
n Please see Page 14A.